Page 39 of Bastard

Teddy came bounding over like a real-life Tigger. “I’m going to sing Dua Lipa next! Everybody has to dance!”

I didn’t feel an ounce of jealousy as he pulled Sam up and danced with her. I couldn’t. Everyone was so happy. As Teddy bounced over to the karaoke equipment I wrapped myself around Sam. Her back to my front. “We’re dancing after all these people leave tonight.”

She spun in my arms. “I was counting on it.”

Teddy’s voice started belting out a comical rendition of “Levitating” while I slipped my hands over Sam’s ass. “You’re levitating.”

She beamed. “Everything’s been so serious for so long. Adriana and I decided we needed a night of fun. And since I can’t go out…”

“You brought the club home.”

“Exactly.”

I did a double take when Storm and Adriana danced past us—her arms around his neck and his hands in approximately the same location as mine, but on Adriana.

Sam’s eyes bugged. “Did I just see what I think I just saw? I can’t turn around.”

“Oh you saw it.” I couldn’t look away no matter how hard I tried. And trust me, I definitely didn’t want this burned into my brain. More power to my brothers for whatever fun they found, but I didn’t need to see it.

Sam shrugged. “He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah, but…”

She put two fingers over my lips. “Don’t.”

I licked her fingers, which made her squeal. “I won’t then. You don’t need to gag me.”

After a couple of hours everyone was pretty buzzed. Georgia and Charles went back to their apartment. Jasmine said her goodbyes. Storm offered to walk Adriana home…and she accepted. Home Run started his shift.

Sam turned down the volume and started some much slower music. It sounded like some former boy bander who’d gone solo, but the song had good vibes that were easy enough to sway to, even if this wasn’t my usual music.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile this much before,” Sam said as she beamed up at me.

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Don’t be. Just do it more.” Then she placed her head against my chest and melted into me.

I closed my eyes and went with the flow, feeling instead of thinking. It was something I could only do with Sam when we tucked away for the night.

“Jace?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you happy?”

I froze. “What do you mean?” I feel like she asked this a lot lately, and that worried me.

“Everything is so complicated.” She looked up with big, soulful eyes I wanted to get lost in every bit as much as the music. “Sometimes I think I make things so much more complicated for you than you need. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, you know? But I’m the one that keeps getting in the way.”

“No.” I cupped her face in my hands. “You are not in the way. You aren’t even on the path. If anything, I’m hacking my way through a forest trying to find you.”

She smiled, but just a little. “I’m right here.”

“Yeah. You are.”

“I just…I really love you and want to make you happy but I can’t snap my fingers and do it. And that makes me mad. And frustrated.”

I swept her up into my arms and stomped off to the bedroom. “You make me very happy all the time.” She rolled away from where I placed her on the bed and got up on her knees. “Is this what we’re turning into? Work and sex?”

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